The
Fr en c h
PHENOMENON Article & Illustrations by Grace McCarty
“The French Girl” has become one of fashion’s greatest archetypes entirely against her own will. We are obsessed with her. She is the epitome of effortlessness. Here in the States, we watch her every move, dissect her whole look, and wonder tirelessly how she can make chic appear so easy. In doing so, we have entirely missed the point. There is a priceless irony in the strenuous attempts of American women to capture the French look. The Parisienne’s best-kept secret? She doesn’t care. The French Girl does not care what you think, what I think, what her mother thinks, what Anna Wintour thinks, or, least of all, what her date thinks about her appearance. She dresses comfortably and confidently, with no one to appease but herself. Many have tried to pin her down by observing patterns in her ensembles: oversized but structured garments, muted colors, flat shoes, silk scarves. What is so often missing in these attempted recreations, however, is the French fashionista’s attitude. Marina Knonosh, former New Yorker and French Girl in Training, tells Vogue that the concept of a woman changing her outfit multiple times a day is entirely foreign in Paris. The concept of handcrafting a new outfit specifically for a date is borderline outrageous.
One Parisian local shared with Harper’s Bazaar that men’s dress shirts make her feel most feminine; she wears them everywhere. Vogue’s most popular “Get Ready with Me” segments often feature French influencers as well. These glimpses into Parisians’ morning routines differ dramatically from the (literal) 38-step daily rituals outlined by certain American celebrities. Jeanne Damas knows no foundation except sunscreen. Camille Rowe praises cheap products from French pharmacies. The two share a distaste for mascara and work around imperfections rather than masking them. They feel naked without a classic red lip, which they smudge on with a finger, rubbing whatever’s leftover into their cheeks as a blush. In less time than I spend crafting my “natural waves,” they are ready for work, dinner, a walk in the park, a night out, a café pitstop, or, preferably, all of the above. If she cared enough, French Girl would attest that the fatal American fashion flaw is effort. The evidence is blatantly smeared across American fashion and beauty ads; we are constantly being told how to “get the look,” and the look is never ours. We eat up so-called “beauty secrets,” straying from our own fashion instincts and the clothes in which we feel most ourselves. We want to look like other people in order to impress other people. Perhaps the real fashion tip to live by is right out of the French Girl Playbook: unapologetic comfort in one’s own skin is the ultimate accessory. 11
